Fastener



E. M. WHALEN March 8, 1949.

FASTENER Filed Aug. 6, 1945 INVENTOR EDWARD H. WHALEN ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 8, 1949 2,463,731 FASTENER Edward M. Whalen,

Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The Cleveland Pneumatic Tool Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application August 6, 1945, Serial No. 609,160

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to a fastener for temporarily holding together perforated plates in perforate alignment, preparatory to the riveting thereof.

An important object of the invention is to produce a fastener or temporary rivet which may be readily applied to and removed from the work, the temporary rivet being constructed in a manner forming a simple assembly which is strong, durable and eflicient.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fastener capable of securing perforated metal sheets together in perfect perforate alignment wherein the parts thereof are united in a manner to preclude separate disengagement thereof should the fastener break While in use or while being applied to the sheets.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fastener for temporarily holding together two perforated sheets including a cup-shaped housing having a base adapted to rest on the upper sheet, a retainer pin slidable through a bore formed in the base of the housing, said retainer pin having a pair of legs maintained in spaced relation by means of a spreader, a compression spring for urging said retainer pin and legs upwardly relative to said housing, and. wire means for locking said retainer pin, spreader and spring so as to limit the expansion of the spring and to prevent separate disengagement of the parts should the fastener break while in use or while being applied to the sheen.

Other objects and advantages more or less ancillary to the foregoing reside in the specific construction and aggroupment of the elements peculiar to this structure, as will become apparent from a more complete examination of this specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view, with parts in elevation, of the improved fastener illustrating one position assumed during its insertion in the work;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view, with parts in elevation, the fastener being rotated 90 from the position shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view with the fastener in sheet clamping position;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the fas-' tener in sheet clamping position;

Figure 5 is an elevational view which maintains separation of retainer pin;

Figure 6 is an elevational view of the retainer P of the spreader the legs on the Figure '7 is an aggregate plan and side elevation view of the collar or cap which is detachably connected to the upper end of the retainer P Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11 are views respectively similar to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 but illustrating a modified form of the invention.

Referring to the drawing for a more detailed description thereof, particularly Figures 1 to 4, the new and improved fastener is generally designated by the reference numeral l2 and comprises a cup-shaped housing l3 formed at its upper end with an external annular flange M. The lower end l5 of the housing [3 is formed with a central bore [6 through which is slidably mounted a retainer pin N. This retainer pin is adapted to project above and below the housing [3 and, as illustrated in Figure 6, is preferably formed of a single piece of cylindrical material. This retainer is split throughout a portion of its length, as indicated at l8, to provide a pair of legs l9 and 20 which project through the central bore !6 and are formed to normally tend to flex toward each other.

5 The slot l8 terminates substantially midway between the ends of the retainer l1 and extends through an annular shoulder 2| formed on the retainer l1 and slotted for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described.

Each leg I9 and 20 has its free end provided with a tapered portion or foot 22 and 23 having outwardly inclined lateral projections 24 and 25 for normally engaging the lower face of the base l6 when the fastener is in inoperative position. As will hereinafter appear, however, the outwardly inclined lateral projections 24 and 25 are also adapted to engage the lowermost face of the sheets being clamped so as to retain such sheets between the base IE and the tapered ends or feet 22 and 23.

Slidably mounted there is a spreader between the legs l9 and 20 26 carried inside the housing at the bottom thereof and which comprises a head portion 21, tail portion 28, and laterally disposed portions or cross arms 2 The cross arms 29 extend laterally of the retainer pin 11 within the slot I8 and are normally held adjacent to the inner surface of the base IS. The head and tail portions are disposed between the legs for maintaining said legs out of contact with one another, and for preventing inward lateral movement of the feet 22 and 23 when the fastener is in sheet clamping engagement, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.

The upper end of the retainer pin I1 is formed with an annular flange 30 which carries the respring so that the feet 22 and 23 will again spring movable C-shaped collar 3|. This collar is shown toward each other to permit their withdrawal in Figure '7 and it provides a supporting area for from the perforations 36.

one end of the compression spring 32, the other The fastener in accordance with the present end of the compression spring resting upon the 5 invention has been primarily designed because of spring seat. The compression spring 32 normalpast experiences that workmen have been serily urges the retainer pin I! upwardly relative ously in ured by parts of the fastener being to the housing l3 and exerts sufficient foi co to rethrown out of the housing This is usually caused tain the sheets between the base of the housing by breakage of the tapered ends 22 and 23 when said fastener is applied to the sheets. denly released energy which has been stored in In accordance with the present invention a the spring tends to throw the retainer pin out the retainer pin I7 and spreader 26 within the hazard is substantially eliminated by reason of compression spring upon breakage of the rebeing maintained in position by the spring 32 tainer pin and/or spreader. This means comresting on the cross arms thereof and being locked prises a U-shaped wire 33, the free ends of which to the retainer pin H by the means just deextend downwardly and under the arms 29 or" the scribed, wili prevent the free expansion of the spreader 26. It will be noted that the U-shaped Sp h ld reakage of the parts occur and wire locking member has its downwardly extendwill obviate the possibility of any of the parts being arms confined within the slotted portion of ing separated or thrown out of the housing.

the annular shoulder 2i and extending along the The foim oi the invention shown in Figures 8 turn about the stem. The locking wire therefore secured to the cross arms of the spreader. In closely engages the reduced upper end of the re- 30 this modified form it will be noted that the free tainer pin I! and has limited movement relative ends 34 and pass under the spreader and to said pin through the slotted shoulder 2!, said ross each o her as they Wr p roun the le I9 relative movement being limited in one direction o the re a r Stem n Someinstances t ay by the coacti'on between the shoulder 21 and th be desirable to provide this additional means of U bend. This arrangement, together with the 35 securing the free ends of the locking wire 33 to engagement of the curved free ends 34 and 35 the cross arms of the spreader. The operation beneath the spreader cross arms 29, serves to look and advantages of this form of the invention are the retainer I7, spreader 26, and spring 32 for the same as those hereinabove described.

preventing separate disengagement thereof. Al hough the foregoing sc iption is neces- In the operation of the device the temporary sarily of a deta ed Character, in Order to mretainer pin l7. Upon movement of the two Jaws be resorted to Without departing from the scope toward each other, the retainer pm I? will be sprlt Of the Invention as herein claimed forced downward relative to the housin [3 by I claim compressing the spring 32 and will cause longi- 1. A device for temporarily clamping together tudi'nai movement of the feet 22 and 23 away from do p f r sheets in superposed relation mpristhe has l5 and out of operative engagement with ing a housing ha a Sheet e ag ng base p the tail portion 28 of the spreader 26. The feet vided W h n opening, a r ner in l din a pair 31 and 38 It is to be understood that the legs n e h underside of the sheets b n mped l9 and 2e are formed of a mater al having a cerspr n m ns f r drawing said e s inw r ly of With the fastener in the position shown in Figaperture, and means slidable in said aperture and I4 and head 30 is released and the ret in [1, for preventing the accidental release of said redue to the action of the compression spimg 32 tainelfrom d s win again be urged upward relative to the hous- 2- A l v for em ly lampin ther ing I3 causing th feet 22 and 23 t b separated perforated sheets in superposed relation comprisor moved laterally away from each other by the ing a housing having a sheet engaging base proof sheets between the feet 22 and 23 and the base engage the underside of the sheets being clam ed T is position of the fastener is shown in and to engage said base when said device is in- Figures 3 and 4 of the drawing. operative, spring means for drawing said legs in- In order to remove the fastener from the work, Wardly of said housing to urge said feet into sheet pressure is again exerted on the fastener by clamping engagement a spreader for V I said le s means of the plier-like tool to compress the having laterally disposed portions in contact wig;

aid spring means, an annular shoulder on said etainer having a longitudinal aperture, and means slidable in said aperture and cooperating vith said shoulder and said spreader to limit the iperation of said spring means beyond a prede- ;ermined range.

3. A device for temporarily clamping together perforated sheets in superposed relation compris ing a housing having a sheet engaging base provided with an opening, a retainer including a pair of laterally resilient legs slidable through said opening, feet on one end of said legs adapted to engage the underside of the sheets being clamped and to engage said base when said device is inoperative, a shoulder formed on each leg near the other end thereof, spring means for drawing said legs inwardly of said housing to urge said feet into sheet clamping engagement, a spreader for said legs, and means slidable relative to said retainer between said shoulders and having engagement with said spreader for joining said retainer and said spreader to limit the operation of said spring means beyond a predetermined range.

4. A device for temporarily clamping together perforated sheets in superposed relation comprising a housing having a sheet engaging base provided with an opening, a retainer including a pair of laterally resilient legs slidable through said opening, feet on one end of said legs adapted to engage the underside of the sheets being clamped, a shoulder formed on each leg near the other end thereof, spring means for drawing said legs inwardly of said housing to urge said feet into sheet clamping engagement, 2. spreader for said legs having laterally disposed portions in contact with said spring means, and a U-shaped link slidable relative to said retainer and cooperating with one of said shoulders and said spreader to prevent the accidental release of said retainer from said housing.

EDWARD M. WHALEN.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,371,879 Wallace Feb. 3, 1942 25 2,350,630 Melcher June 6, 1944 

